Gamma Eta Chapter Newsletter
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Epsilon State || Southeast District
Volume 23, Number 1, August 5, 2016
DELTA KAPPA GAMMA promotes professional and personal growth
of women educators and excellence in education.
2016-2018 Biennium Officers
(standing from left to right)
Barbara Verdin, Debbie Usie, Laura Grubb, Linda Landry
(front row)
F. Margret Atkinson
(not pictured)
Deborah Marchand
From the President: F. Margret Atkinson
I am so proud to be a member of the Gamma Eta Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, and I am so humbled to be your incoming president.
First, I would like to thank all of the Gamma Eta sisters for their support and willingness to travel on this journey with me.
I would like to thank those sisters who founded Gamma Eta, and I have enjoyed speaking to you as I made my introductory phone calls. Carol Peltier, a founding sister, past president, and all around visionary, continues to lead through her support and guidance of my efforts.
I would like to thank the past officers, without whom we would not be where we are. Mary Jane and Renee, as two of our most recent presidents, have led us to great things, and I hope to be able to continue their trajectory. Mary Jane has taken time to help me cultivate my ideas, and Renee has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders.
I would like to thank the new officers who will serve with me in the 2016-2018 biennium. Two new members, Debbie Usie and Laura Grubb, and three long-standing members, Katie Ferguson, Linda Landry, and Debbie Marchand, have all accepted a leadership position. Their service is invaluable.
I would also like to thank Barbara Verdin for continuing to lead by being Parliamentarian and creating a newsletter. She is trying this new form through Smore, and I am sure it will be a great step for us.
I have a two pronged vision for the 2016-2018 biennium.
1. I would like to shift our technological paradigm.
We have already begun to embrace the capabilities that Google Drive has for collaboration, and with my recent participation in ISTE's annual conference, I am an even bigger believer in collaboration through technology. If you have not already created a Gmail account, please reach out if you need help. If you need help with using Google Drive, please email me and I can help!
International also has built a fantastic website, and we, as Gamma Eta sisters, need to utilize it more. There are screenshots below that show how you can use the website to find out more about communities, participate in discussion boards, and read publications in digital form.
I gave a short tutorial earlier in the year on how to navigate the communities section, and you can review it here.
Don't forget that your member number is a six digit number that can be found on your membership card.
2. I would like to build membership by working towards a balance of commitment to engaging community building.
The selection process for new members has changed, and we will detail that at the August meeting. But I feel there are so many successful women educators who would be strong Gamma Eta sisters, if we could offer an opportunity to engage with the larger community. This opportunity has to be balanced with other commitments, and so that is why our first initiative this year is to engage with Braveheart-Children in Need. Mary Jane began our collaboration with Braveheart last year, and Debbie has continued the dialogue by asking Dee Robinson to be our October speaker. I am excited to continue this dialogue, and I think it helps us, as Gamma Eta sisters, continue to stay engaged by supporting children who are a part of our educational system.
As always, I appreciate dialogue and welcome a conversation, so don't hesitate to email me at fmatkinson@gmail.com.
Thank you for going on this journey with me as we continue to grow and seek excellence in education.
With much love,
Margret
Committee Lists
Communities
Publications
August Meeting: (Monday, August 29)
Chapter meeting program:
Chapter Business; Program Review; New Teacher Project
Time:
6:00 pm until 8:00 pm
Location:
La Madeleine (Perkins Rowe), 7707 Bluebonnet Blvd.
Hostesses:
F. Margret Atkinson and Debbie Usie
Email: gammaetaepsilondkg@gmail.com
Website: www.gammaetaepsilondkg.com
Location: la Madeleine Country French Café, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
Phone: 225-293-4853
First Vice President: Debbie Usie
Welcome, Gamma Eta sisters, to another year of exciting opportunities for learning, studying, and serving.
We will begin with our annual business meeting on August 29 at La Madeleine in Perkins Rowe. Please note that this meeting date has been changed, due to flooding.
Then on September 24, we will gather with other DKG members for the Southeast District Meeting at the Kiwanis Log Cabin in Ponchatoula. This is always a highlight and a wonderful opportunity to meet DKG members from other chapters who share common goals.
Finally, our October 18 meeting will bring our chapter an opportunity to learn how we can become involved in a very special project. Dee Robinson, founder of Braveheart—Children in Need will speak with members about her mission to provide comfort and a smooth transition to children entering the foster care system. Her compassion for children in this often traumatic situation and her desire to be of service will serve to inspire each of us and possibly pave the way for our chapter organization to become involved in her important mission. You will want to hear her story.
These are just the three beginning meetings we have planned, and a complete list of the meetings will be found in the yearbook as well as on our website. This complete list will be published by our first meeting.
Thank you for your commitment to Gamma Eta! We are looking forward to seeing each of you at this year’s exciting line-up of programs.
You can always email me at usiedebbie@gmail.com if you ever have any questions.
Southeast District Meeting, hosted by Omicron Chapter
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., the program begins at 9:00 a.m., and lunch and awards begin at noon. The theme is “Celebrating Southeast Louisiana Heritage,” and it will be nice to celebrate with our other Southeast District sisters.
You need to fill out the registration form (click to download in Word or as a PDF) and send it by September 3, 2016.
You can make check payable to Omicron DKG District Meeting, and you can mail checks and registration to Diane Hughes, 20470 Old Covington Highway, Hammond 70403. All of this information, and more, is in the registration form.
This will serve as Gamma Eta's September meeting.
Questions? Email Mary Jane Clark, SE District Director, at mary_jane_clark@yahoo.com.
Saturday, Sep 24, 2016, 08:30 AM
Kiwanis Park, 255 West Magnolia Street, Ponchatoula, LA, United States
Second Vice President: Linda Landry
I hope we all have an exciting year, and you can contact me at trpll@yahoo.com.
Board books for Epsilon state project
From the state website: "Epsilon State DKG members donate new board books for young children through Early Steps. Board books are durable books printed on thick cardboard which are most suitable for small children."
You can find suggestions for titles on that page, too!!
If you cannot bring the books to the August meeting, please email fmatkinson@gmail.com to be able to drop them off before the Southeast District meeting.
Monday, Aug 29, 2016, 06:00 PM
la Madeleine Country French Café, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
Be sure to look at it as well!
DKG Gallery of Fine Arts (open submission window)
You can find a rubric online, as well as frequently asked questions.
Submissions applications can be found under "forms" area under the "applications" area.
Monday, Aug 1, 2016, 06:00 AM
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Treasurer: Laura Grubb
Dues are $71 for regular current member .
Dues are $81 for new members.
Dues are $26 for reserve members.
Make checks payable to Delta Kappa Gamma-Gamma Eta.
You are welcome to pay at the first meeting on August 16th, or you can mail your checks to me. My address is 1214 Springlake Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70810.
Please have your dues in by September 1st, so we can meet our deadlines.
Thank you for your attentiveness to this matter, and I look forward to serving you as treasurer! I can always be reached at lmgrubb14@gmail.com
You need to be an active member. There are more guidelines found on this page.
Secretary: Katie Ferguson
Should there be any corrections needed, please contact me at katermike3@aol.com
You may also request an international speaker.
All of these instructions are found on this page.
Editor's Edicts: Barbara Verdin
Anticipation usually evokes some kind of feeling(s) in us. My feelings are of excitement, wonderment, happiness, and on and on. Anticipation of what? The accomplishments that will be made in our DKG chapter under the leadership of such dynamic, professional young women named Margret, Debbie, Laura, Katie, and Linda.
It is starting with a brand new format for our newsletter. We hope that you will enjoy the lay-out, messages, and all the other items contained within. Please feel free to let me know what you would like to see included in upcoming newsletter that will be published in October. Comments, suggestions, and/or articles are always welcome.
I can always be reached at barbaraverdin@att.com.
Parliamentary Possibilities-Barbara
Each newsletter shall contain a different rule.
I am starting with my pet peeve-introducing a motion. Many say, "I make a motion to...."
Correct way to introduce: I move that we adopt Freddie the Frog as our official pet.
Incorrect: I make a motion that we adopt..............
Hope this helps for future reference when a motion is required.
Book Blitz
This is a moving novel and will be a great way to continue the dialogue.
A panel of Gamma Eta sisters will lead the discussion of the novel.
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2017, 06:00 PM
La Madeline, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA, United States (Perkins Rowe)
New Teacher Project
(please scroll through this form to find information for needed supplies)
Sara, a seventh ELA teacher, and Michelle, an art teacher, are both new teachers at Northwestern Middle School, and have expressed appreciation of our willingness to help them.
Please mark your response so we can anticipate what will be brought.
Celebrate a New Life
Brady Joshua Goad arrived at 7:22 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6. He weighed 7 lbs, 1 oz.
Congratulations!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO........
LAURA GRUBB-8/29
BETTY KRAFT-9/15
DEBBIE USIE-9/7
STATE/INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
Barbara Verdin || Editor || barabaraverdin@att.com